While live-action adaptations of animated series are known for being notoriously bad, I’m holding on to faith for one and one alone because frankly, I really want it to be good. Fortunately, we know how our first look at the show’s cast and it seems to be shaping up pretty nicely!
Earlier today, Netflix revealed the main cast of their upcoming adaptation of the critically-acclaimed Nickelodeon series and it’s full of some pretty fresh faces. Protagonist and titular “last airbender” Aang will be played by Gordon Cormier (Gabby Duran and the Unsittables), Kiawentiio (Beans) has been cast as Katara, and Ian Ousley (Physical) is set to play the stubborn but oh-so-lovable Sokka. Of course, the cast wouldn’t be complete without the mention of ever-angsty Prince Zuko, who will be played by PEN15‘s Dallas Liu. While Toph seems a pretty notable missing member of the team at the moment, she does come in a bit later in the series meaning we might not get her reveal until the show’s second season.
In addition to the cast, Netflix also mentioned several of the crew members attached to the project. Albert Kim (Sleepy Hollow, Nikita) will serve as showrunner, executive producer, and writer of the series, with Dan Lin (The Lego Movie, Aladdin), Lindsey Liberatore (Walker), Michael Goi (Swamp Thing, American Horror Story) all executive producing. Roseanne Liang is set to be the show’s co-executive producer and Goi, Liang, and Jabbar Raisani are on board as its directors.
After heavy criticism of 2010’s Avatar: The Last Airbender movie by M. Night Shyamalan — especially for a perceived lack of representation in the show’s cast — Kim says he is taking care to make the series a “benchmark in representation.”
A live-action version would establish a new benchmark in representation and bring in a whole new generation of fans. This was a chance to showcase Asian and Indigenous characters as living, breathing people. Not just in a cartoon, but in a world that truly exists, very similar to the one we live in.
As of right now, no date or additional actors are tied to the project. However, various Avatar projects have been confirmed to be in the works, meaning we should have some new adventures in the four nations to help keep us busy while we wait.
Looks like we’ll be waiting a bit longer to see Carnage and Tom Hardy’s abs grace the big screen. According to a Variety report, Sony has announced Venom: Let There Be Carnage’s release date has been pushed from September 24 to October 15. The news follows the ongoing surge in COVID-19 cases in the U.S. due to the Delta variant and rising discomfort towards visiting theaters. According to the National Research Group, consumer confidence in movie theaters being safe and COVID-free has plummeted from 81% on July 11 to just 66% as of August 9. Seeing as how low attendance makes for poor box-office performance, it comes as little surprise that Sony made the call to wait a bit longer.
For those at home keeping score, this delay does push Venom firmly into the category of films delayed more than a year after their originally intended release date. When first announced, Venom was slated for an October 2, 2020 release, however, problems related to COVID soon got that date pushed back to June 25, 2021. Since then, the film has been pushed back even more and has since landed at its current October 15 release date.
Seeing as how 2018’s Venom was a surprise hit for Sony that raked in a whopping $855 million at the global box office, it makes sense that the studio is waiting for the perfect — and safest — time to release the film. The second one in the series, Venom: Let Their Be Carnage picks up where its previous entry left off and examines just how journalist Eddie Brock (Tom hardy) is coping with having an alien symbiote living within him. In addition to tackling his own inner demons, Brock gets pulled into a battle against serial killer Cletus Kasady (Woody Harrelson) who has a symbiote of his own called Carnage. The film features Michelle Williams, Reid Scott, Naomie Harris, and, of course, Hardy and Harrelson.
On top of just looking pretty damn exciting, Venom: Let There Be Carnage could prove to be an incredibly important film for — wait for it — the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now that Spider-Man is a part of the MCU, there’s no stopping Sony and Disney from any further team-ups, and there are several Easter eggs that lead us to think something could be coming. Here’s hoping the October 15 release date is the firm and final one for Let There Be Carnage and we can finally see what’s in store for Brock and, fingers crossed, the MCU.
As an emerging artist, getting to open for an established star on tour can be a huge opportunity. Back in 2018 and 2019, for example, Billie Eilish opened for some dates of Florence + The Machine’s “High As Hope” tour. Now, Eilish is offering the same opportunity to another crop of artists (to open for her, not Florence).
Eilish announced her world tour dates for 2022 a few months ago, but now she has unveiled the openers that will be joining her on the road, and it’s quite the cast: Willow, Duckwrth, Arlo Parks, Jessie Reyez, Girl In Red, and Jungle. Willow will join Eilish for her March shows, while Duckwrth will take the April shift, as well as some dates in June. Those are the North American dates, but as for the European shows, Reyez, Girl In Red, and Jungle will be on board for various shows in June and July.
Sharing the news, Eilish wrote on Instagram, “AHHHHHHHH I CANT WAIT [celebrating face emojis] & I’M BRINGING MY FRIENDSSSS.”
For those who aren’t able to catch Eilish on tour, they can take solace in the fact that there’s apparently a lot more Happier Than Ever content to look forward to: Eilish has declared that she plans to make a video for each of the album’s songs.
Soulja Boy and Instagram just do not mix and never have, but that didn’t stop the “Make It Clap” rapper from hopping on a Live video call with a user who accused him of buying fake mall jewelry to defend himself. On Wednesday, the man posted a video of Soulja Boy and his entourage apparently standing around a kiosk at Las Vegas’ Fashion Show Mall. “Soulja you dead wrong,” he captioned. “First Rapper To Get Caught Buyin Jewelry In The Middle Of The Mall.”
However, Soulja caught wind of the clip and logged into his own Instagram Live to deny the accusations, leading to a video call between the two men that degenerated quickly into a shouting match during which Soulja challenges the man’s street credibility and insists that the jewelry he purchased was real. “Walk in that same jewelry store that you just left in the mall and try to buy the Cartier,” he sneered. “That mothaf*cka $35,000. The Rollie $30,000. Everything over there real. They sell real ice in the mall, clout chasin’ ass pussy ass.”
Soulja Boy’s trash-talking ways have led to some pretty entertaining moments in the past such as his back-and-forth with Bow Wow in the lead-up to their Verzuz battle last month, but this is one case in which he could have left things well enough alone.
As Marvel’s What If…? started trending on social media shortly after its premiere on Wednesday, an animated series at the Distinguished Competition (that’s DC Comics, for you non-nerds) decided to get in on the action with a highly suggestive tweet. While jumping on the What If…? hashtag, the Twitter account for HBO Max’s Harley Quinn proposed a scenario that had already kicked off a hilarious social media firestorm earlier in the summer.
“#WhatIf Batman does do THAT ” the Harley Quinn account tweeted in a not-so-subtle reference to the now-infamous Batman-and-Catwoman oral sex controversy.
Back in June, Harley Quinn co-creator Justin Halpern commented during an interview that using mainly villains in the animated series gave the writers an incredible amount of leeway because DC Comics is very protective of its heroes. Specifically ones that are the face of major blockbusters and merchandise empires. Case in point, Halpern revealed that a proposed Batman and Catwoman sex scene had the higher-ups at DC Comics freaking out.
“We had a moment where Batman was going down on Catwoman. And DC was like, “You can’t do that. You absolutely cannot do that,’” Halpern told Variety. “They’re like, ‘Heroes don’t do that.’ So, we said, ‘Are you saying heroes are just selfish lovers?’ They were like, ‘No, it’s that we sell consumer toys for heroes. It’s hard to sell a toy if Batman is also going down on someone.’”
DC Comics’ prudish approach to Batman kicked off a field day on Twitter that Val Kilmer couldn’t resist jumping into. The Batman Forever actor fired off a tweet that suggested his version of the Dark Knight is up for anything.
Colorado’s Front Range has long been a destination for tourists looking for mountain landscapes and accessibility. While Denver is the most populated and well-known city in the state, its lesser-known neighbor to the south has been quietly gaining ground on Denver as the hot spot of Front Range tourism. As a resident of the state and avid adventurer, I feel like the upswell in interest is well-deserved.
Colorado Springs — or “The Springs” as it’s commonly referred to — is the second-largest city in CO and it’s growing quickly. With its ample outdoor recreation opportunities, a lower cost of living, and a rich history, Colorado Springs just claimed the #6 spot on US News list of Best Places to Live in 2021-2022. I lived in the city growing up and since moving north I’ve gone back several times a year for day trips and weekends away. I’m always telling friends and strangers that they have to visit and that they’d be shocked at just how much there is to do there and how accessible it all is.
Here’s my quick guide for anyone planning a trip.
Where to Eat:
Food Halls
When I’m traveling I’m always drawn to food halls, especially as a solo traveler. They’re a great place to find not only innovative food and drinks, but to people watch and feel the vibe of a city or neighborhood. The Springs has a few that are my go-tos — I love to visit C.O.A.T.I, downtown, for good music and the industrial vibe (Luchals is my favorite). The Carter Payne is a repurposed church building that is now home to food, wine, beer, and atmosphere. Another repurposed building is Ivywild School, an old school building turned “community marketplace” with food, drinks, and a side of nostalgia.
Flying W. Ranch
If you’re interested in a more kitschy western experience, then make reservations for the Flying W.Ranch. A cattle ranch turned food and entertainment venue, the Flying W. Ranch started serving BBQ Chuckwagon dinners in 1953. After being forced to close eight years ago due to a devastating forest fire, the ranch has just reopened this year for dinner and cowboy singalongs.
My favorite place to stop for a drink is The Golden Bee in the Broadmoor area of the Springs. The Golden Bee is an authentic 19th century British Pub that was transferred panel by panel from the UK to the United States. There are nightly piano sing-alongs and a charming tradition of throwing bees that you’ll have to experience for yourself.
When I’m staying overnight in Colorado Springs my first choice is always one of the properties that make up the sprawling and historic Broadmoor Resort. A destination in its own right, the main property has over 100 years of history and every amenity you can imagine — with an unbeatable backdrop. If a luxury resort isn’t your style, The Broadmoor also has three all-inclusive wilderness properties that are slightly more rustic without sacrificing style or service.
I’ve visited all three over the years, as they really are quintessential Colorado Springs.
Emerald Valley Ranch is a 16-acre ranch with a lodge and 10 cabins at over 8,000 feet above sea level. You’re shuttled through the Pike National Forest and met with cocktails and warm cookies upon arrival. There are two lakes, hiking trails, hot tubs, yard games, and stables to keep you as busy or not as you’d like.
The perfect place to unplug in nature… Luxuriously.
Cloud Camp is another Broadmoor wilderness experience — and what an experience it is. This is a truly bucket-list stay. Cloud Camp sits at over 9,000 feet above sea level (and 3,000 above Colorado Springs) on the site of the former Cheyenne Lodge. The adventure starts on the drive to the property itself — when you’re shuttled up Cheyenne mountain and 16 switchbacks. You can also hike or ride a mule to the top of the mountain and your dreamy accommodations.
Everything is included at Cloud Camp, so whether you want to be active or relax in a hot tub on what seems like the top of the world, you can do it here. The property boasts rooms in the lodge, cabins, and for the bucket-list luxury traveler, you can even book a converted two-story fire tower suite with 360-degree observation decks and a private hot tub.
Another option that isn’t quite within Colorado Springs, but deserves a place on this list is The Broadmoor Fishing Camp. Located just 75 miles west of Colorado Springs on 5 miles of the Tarryall River is an all-inclusive fly fishing camp. Sleep in historic miner’s cabins along the river, and spend the day with your private fly fishing guide before relaxing with cocktails in the stylish lounge and enjoying a meal with the other guests.
Where to Explore:
Garden of the Gods
The outdoor recreation opportunities in and around Colorado Springs are vast, but a trip wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Garden of the Gods. You can hike, drive, bike, horseback ride or climb (with a permit) the towering sandstone formations in this free public park.
With 21 miles of trails and over 2 million visitors per year, it is an unmissable Colorado Springs experience.
Colorado is home to 58 “fourteeners” — mountains over 14,000 ft above sea level — and the most famous of those is probably Pikes Peak. The song “America the Beautiful” was written by Katherine Lee Bates after witnessing the beauty at the summit, and you’ll understand why when you see it for yourself.
What really makes Pikes Peak special as a 14er is the access. You can hike, of course, but there is also a paved highway to the summit along with a cog railway. The Pikes Peak Cog Railway just reopened this summer after years and millions of dollars in renovations. It is the highest railway in North America and the highest cog railway in the world. I was lucky enough to ride the week it reopened and it is truly a bucket list experience as you ascend over the tree line and look out over the city and up onto the summit. There you can visit the newly opened summit visitor center and try some legendary high altitude donuts.
As you might recall, Japanese Breakfast‘s Michelle Zauner used to live in Philadelphia. Pre-fame, one of the odd jobs she held was working the coat check at Union Transfer, one of the city’s music venues. Now, to commemorate a sold-out five-night show run at that venue in support of her album Jubilee, the venue has named its coat check after Zauner.
“MICHELLE ZAUNER COAT CHECK!!!” Zauner wrote on Instagram. “Thank you [owner Sean Agnew] and [Union Transfer] for commemorating our historic five night run in Philly with the most memorable present of all. The coat check I used to work when the venue first opened has now been enshrined as my coat check. I love Philly the most.”
Aside from the coat check’s new name, it now features a plaque that reads, “May everyone who works in this room go on to sell out five nights at Union Transfer,” followed by the dates of the concerts.
A Reddit user who says they attended one of Japanese Breakfast’s Philly shows also shared a really nice anecdote from the night, writing:
“[Zauner] told a story about working coat check there and how she allowed a customer to get change for a fake $100 bill (unbeknownst to her). She got in trouble and was responsible for covering the missing money out of her shift money. […] The owner of Union Transfer, Sean Agnew, stepped in and paid it for her. On Saturday, she brought Sean out on stage to say thank you and (I believe) returned the money that he had spotted her. So cool.”
Houston Hottie Megan Thee Stallion teased a return to her old ways in a recent interview and apparently wanted to give a sneak peek of what that meant, so she released an aggressive new freestyle straight from her vacation. Dropping boastful bars and dismissing her haters, Meg shows off her love for hip-hop ephemera (“Megan a force, so you know I need two pair”), Fashion Nova, and clever wordplay (“Yo vocab dont go past period / Hoe, dont question me”). Check it out below.
Although the Good News rapper has had a relatively quiet 2021 as she rides out the success of her 2020 debut, she has still maintained a similar level of attention thanks to her six MTV VMA nominations, the one-year anniversary of her and Cardi B’s seismic collaboration “WAP,” becoming the first rapper to cover the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue, and dropping the controversial and defiant “Thot Sh*t” video.
Earlier in the summer, Pacific Northwest alt-pop performer Deb Never unveiled “Disassociate” off of her forthcoming Where Have All The Flowers Gone EP, coming September 10. The eight-track collection also features collaborations from Michael Percy, Jam City, and Jim-E Stack, and today, Deb’s collaboration with Stack, “Sweet And Spice,” is available to hear. Over a skittering beat, “Sweet And Spice” lives up to its name, with a dreamy yet ruminative melody.
“I don’t consciously try to blend together genres on purpose,” Deb told Complex back in April of how she builds her pop-meets-hip-hop aesthetic. “I think it just happens because of the music I like and what I grew up listening to that shaped who I am. The thing that creates familiarity and nostalgia, but fresh at the same time, is not referencing a certain genre, artist, or song. I like going off personal taste and what I think sounds good together. It’s pure instinct.”
Check out “Sweet And Spice” above, and have a look at the EP’s art and tracklist below.
Deb Never
1. “Stupid” (produced by Michael Percy and Hoskins)
2. “Sorry” (produced by Luke Wild)
3. “Someone Else” (produced By Jam City and Michael Percy)
4. “Disassociate” (produced by Luke Wild and Michael Percy)
5. “Sweet & Spice” feat. Jim-E Stack
6. “Funky” (produced by Michael Percy)
7. “Coca Cola” (produced by Jam City)
8. “Red Eye” (produced by Ryan Dulude)
Where Have All The Flowers Gone is out September 10. Pre-order it here.
Many people (like Demi Lovato) expressed disbelief at the huge crowds that Lollapalooza drew this year in light of the still-ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The predominant concern is that an event of such a scale would lead to a substantial uptick in COVID-19 cases, but it seems that so far, that hasn’t been the case.
Chicago Department Of Public Health commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady took to Twitter this morning to share some COVID statistics from the two weeks since the festal. In a thread, Arwady reported that there’s “NO evidence” that Lollapalooza was a “super-spreader” event:
“We are now 14 days past the first day of Lolla and we are continuing to investigate cases of COVID. There have been no unexpected findings at this point and NO evidence at this point of ‘super-spreader’ event or substantial impact to Chicago’s COVID-19 epidemiology.
Of the estimated 385k attendees at Lolla, 90%+ were vax’d.
0.0004% (4 in 10,000) of vaccinated attendees have reported testing positive.
0.0016% (16 in 10,000) of unvaccinated attendees have reported testing positive.
As of 8/11, no hospitalizations or deaths have been reported.
As of now, there is a total of 203 cases identified with attendance at Lolla and symptom onset (or if asymptomatic, test date) on or after attendance. 58 were Chicago residents, 138 were non-Chicago Illinois residents and 7 out of state residents.
COVID risk can not be eliminated. We want to stay open as a city, but being open also means being careful — getting vaccinated, getting tested if you have any COVID symptoms, and, for now, wearing a mask in indoor public places. Let’s #ProtectChicago.”
We are now 14 days past the first day of Lolla and we are continuing to investigate cases of COVID. There have been no unexpected findings at this point and NO evidence at this point of “super-spreader” event or substantial impact to Chicago’s COVID-19 epidemiology.
Of the estimated 385k attendees at Lolla, 90%+ were vax’d. 0.0004% (4 in 10,000) of vaccinated attendees have reported testing positive. 0.0016% (16 in 10,000) of unvaccinated attendees have reported testing positive. As of 8/11, no hospitalizations or deaths have been reported.
As of now, there is a total of 203 cases identified with attendance at Lolla and symptom onset (or if asymptomatic, test date) on or after attendance. 58 were Chicago residents, 138 were non-Chicago Illinois residents and 7 out of state residents.
COVID risk can not be eliminated. We want to stay open as a city, but being open also means being careful—getting vaccinated, getting tested if you have any COVID symptoms, and, for now, wearing a mask in indoor public places. Let’s #ProtectChicago.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
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” the Harley Quinn account tweeted in a not-so-subtle reference to the now-infamous 
